Elastomer Bearing Structure for Stable Office Chair Backrest Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elastomer bearings in office seating, particularly those used for dorsokinetic backrests, face instability and risk of detachment due to overloading, leading to reduced service life.
Innovation Solution
An elastomer bearing design featuring a collar sleeve that envelops the elastomer body and mating flange, providing a circumferential stop to prevent overloading and ensure a stable connection, with vulcanization to the base plate and counterflange for enhanced stability, and a three-point fastening system to absorb and transmit forces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an elastomer bearing is used to connect seating furniture elements, then mobility in rotational degrees of freedom is provided, but the elastomer body risks overloading and detachment from the base plate
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing is divided into distinct functional components: the elastomer body for mobility, the base plate for mounting, the mating flange for connection, and the collar sleeve for protection. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function optimally while working together as a integrated system.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar sleeve acts as an intermediary protective element between the elastomer body and external loads. It provides a circumferential stop that prevents overloading of the elastomer body while still allowing the desired mobility and rotational degrees of freedom.
2Strength
If the elastomer body is vulcanized to the base plate and mating flange, then a stable connection is achieved, but the connection may still fail under excessive tensile forces
Solution Approach 1:
The collar sleeve provides beforehand protection by establishing a circumferential stop that prevents excessive loads from reaching the vulcanized connections. This prior cushioning measure ensures that the strong vulcanized bonds are not subjected to forces beyond their capacity, thereby extending service life.
3Reliability
If a collar sleeve is added to encase the elastomer body and mating flange, then overloading is prevented, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar sleeve serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides a circumferential stop to prevent overloading, protects the elastomer body from lateral forces, guides the assembly during installation, and maintains the structural integrity of the bearing. This multi-functionality justifies the additional component by eliminating the need for separate protective elements.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design significantly increases the service life of elastomer bearings by preventing detachment and ensuring stable connection, minimizing the risk of mechanical failure and maintaining desired mobility and damping characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
an elastomer body (4) firmly connected to the base plate (2) and to the mating flange (3)
Implementation Method 2
maintaining desired mobility and damping characteristics
Implementation Method 3
the elastomeric body (4) is vulcanized to the base plate (2) and to the mating flange (3)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The elastomeric bearing (1) has a base plate, a mating flange. A flange elastomer is secured to the base plate and is connected with the mating flange. A collar sleeve is fixed to the base plate, and partially envelopes the mating flange and the flange elastomer. The flange elastomer is molded at the base plate and the mating flange. The base plate, the mating flange and the flange elastomer have common major axis. A through-hole is formed along the major axis of the base plate. An independent claim is included for an office furniture.